A screwball comedy that challenged censors and redefined the genre's happy ending
In short: Preston Sturges’ 1942 classic The Palm Beach Story is a whirlwind of rapid-fire dialogue and social satire. While critics once dismissed its escapist plot as trivial, the film is now celebrated as a masterclass in screwball comedy, famously complicating the traditional romantic resolution by questioning what happens after the wedding.
The film follows Gerry Jeffers, who decides to divorce her struggling inventor husband, Tom, to find a wealthy benefactor in Florida. Her journey involves a series of chaotic encounters, including a run-in with a group of rowdy hunters and an introduction to the eccentric millionaire John D. Hackensacker III. The narrative, which Sturges initially titled Is Marriage Necessary?, was heavily scrutinized by the Hays Office. Censors demanded significant script revisions, specifically targeting the film's light treatment of divorce and its overt parody of John D. Rockefeller.
Production was marked by high-speed pacing and intense dialogue, which reportedly left actress Mary Astor uncomfortable with the director's style. Despite the friction, the film featured a notable cast, with Claudette Colbert earning $150,000 and Joel McCrea receiving $60,000. Rudy Vallée, in his first major comedic role, won the National Board of Review's Best Actor award for 1942. The film's inspiration was deeply personal for Sturges, drawing on his own travels and his ex-wife Eleanor Hutton’s experiences among the European aristocracy.
Upon its 1943 release, the film received mixed reviews. Critics like Bosley Crowther criticized its lack of action and excessive talking, while others, such as those at Variety, praised its escapist tone during wartime. Retrospectively, the film has gained significant acclaim. It is often viewed as an implied, cynical sequel to It Happened One Night, suggesting that the romantic bliss of earlier comedies might be far more fragile than audiences previously believed. Today, it holds a 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is recognized as a pinnacle of the screwball tradition.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Palm Beach Story
- Also: The Palm Beach Story
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